Hydraulically actuated device for shaking trees

ABSTRACT

A vibrating device mounted on a movable frame, such as a tractor, so as to impart a vibrating motion to trees to dislodge fruit, nuts or seeds therefrom, which shaking may be of a low amplitude, to remove faulty or immature fruit, nuts or seeds, or to remove an excess of fruit, nuts or seeds from the tree, however, a later shaking action may be used to remove most or all of the fruit, nuts, seeds or the like in a harvesting operation. The present device is preferably mounted on a tractor having a powerlift hitch. A hydraulic pump is connected in driven relation with the mechanical power take-off of a tractor or the like, to furnish the power for a hydraulic pump to direct hydraulic fluid, under pressure, to the various elements of the tree clamping and shaking device. The tree clamping and shaking operations are performed by a single valve controlled by a lever, which lever, when moved in one direction, directs hydraulic fluid, under pressure, from a hydraulic pump to one end of a cylinder, to clamp a tree between the jaws of the tree shaking device, then a sequence valve is opened, by hydraulic pressure, to direct hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump, under pressure, to a hydraulic motor to drive eccentric weights to perform a shaking function on the tree clamped thereby. By movement of the valve control lever in the opposite direction, to a central position, the sequence valve closes and the hydraulic fluid will be diverted from the hydraulic motor, through a by-pass conduit, whereupon, the vibrations will cease, and, by further movement of the valve control lever in the same direction, hydraulic fluid will be directed into the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder which actuated the clamping jaws to move the jaws apart and the hydraulic fluid therein will be directed from the opposite end of the cylinder to release the clamping jaws from the tree which is clamped therebetween.

United States Patent [191 Favor Nov. 13, 1973 HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATEDDEVICE FOR SHAKING TREES [75] lnventor: iiobert R. Favor, Bowie, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Bowie Industries, Inc., Bowie, Tex.

[22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1972 v [21] Appl. No.: 215,336

Primary Examine rRussell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-J. A. OliffAttorney-Wayland D. Keith et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A vibrating device mounted on a movable frame, such as atractor, so as to impart a vibrating motion to trees to dislodge fruit,nuts or seeds therefrom, which shaking may be ofa low amplitude, toremove faulty or immature fruit, nuts or seeds, or to remove an excessof fruit, nuts or seeds from the tree, however, a later shaking actionmay be used to remove most or all of the fruit, nuts, seeds or the likein a harvesting operation. The present device is preferably mounted on atractor having a powerlift hitch. A hydraulic pump is connected indriven relation with the mechanical power take-off of a tractor or thelike, to furnish the power for a hydraulic pump to direct hydraulicfluid. under pressure, to the various elements of the tree clamping andshaking device. The tree clamping and shaking operations are performedby a single valve controlled by a lever, which lever, when moved in onedirection, directs hydraulic fluid, under pressure, from a hydraulicpump to one end of a cylinder, to clamp a tree between the jaws of thetree shaking device, then a sequence valve is opened, by hydraulicpressure, to direct hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump, underpressure, to a hydraulic motor to drive eccentric weights to perform ashaking function on the tree clamped thereby. By movement of the valvecontrol lever in the opposite direction, to a central position, thesequence valve closes and the hydraulic fluid will be diverted from thehydraulic motor, through a bypass conduit, whereupon, the vibrationswill cease, and, by further movement of the valve control lever in thesame direction, hydraulic fluid will be directed into the opposite endof the hydraulic cylinder which actuated the clamping jaws to move thejaws apart and the hydraulic fluid therein will be directed from theopposite end of the cylinder to release the clamping jaws from the treewhich is clamped therebetween.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEDuuv 13 ms 3.771. 301

sum 30F 5 HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED DEVICE FOR SHAKING TREES BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in treeshaking devices, and more particularly to a tree shaking device forharvesting fruit, nuts, and seeds which device utilizes a hydraulicallyactuated cylinder to perform a clamping action about a tree trunk. Ahydraulically driven motor is used to rotate eccentric weights, afterthe tree shaking device is clamped to the tree, which eccentric weightsof the tree shaking device create the vibratory motion that istransferred from the tree shaking device to a tree trunk or the like toperform a harvesting function.

Various types of vibratory tree shaking devices have been proposedheretofore but these, for the most part, were complex in structure andrequired several operations to connect the tree shaking device with thetree and to start the shaking procedure, each which operation requiredseparate control mechanisms to perform such operations and time toperform it.

The present tree shaking device is hydraulically driven, and the deviceis clamped to the tree and the shaking operation is initiated by themanipulation of a single lever to control a control valve, which leveris so programmed that the tree is clamped between a pair of elastomerlined jaws by action of a hydraulic cylinder on the tree shaking device.Hydraulic fluid is then directed, by a sequence valve, to a hydraulicmotor to drive eccentric weights of the tree shaking device. Thehydraulic motor is started after the tree is clamped between the jaws ofthe clamping device by operation of the sequence valve which opens todirect hydraulic fluid under pressure to the motor which drives theeccentric weights in timed relation in opposite directions about acommon axis. The rotation of the eccentric weights is so timed andadjusted as to get the maximum amplitude of vibration with a minimuminput of power.

The present invention is so constructed, that by varying the volume ofhydraulic fluid transmitted under pressure to the hydraulic motor, whichdrives the eccentric weights, vibrations are created, the intensity ofwhich may be varied. The speed of the motor can be minutely controlled,to vary the speed of the eccentric weights which are driven thereby, sothat a particular amplitude of vibrations can be imparted to theparticular genus and size tree to be shaken, in such manner as to obtainthe maximum recovery of fruit, nuts or seeds with the greatestefficiency.

The unique hydraulic circuitry of this machine requires only onefour-way control valve to operate the mechanism of the machine tocontrol all functions thereof, both the clamping function to securelyhold the machine to the tree, and the subsequent starting of thehydraulic motor to impart vibratory motion when the control lever ismoved in one direction, and the imparting of the desired amplitude ofvibration to the tree. The same four-way control valve, when the leveris moved in the opposite direction, closes off the flow of hydraulicfluid under pressure to the motor thereby stopping the motor and then,further movement of the valve lever in the same direction, which directshydraulic fluid to the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder to releasethe jaws which clamp the tree shaking device to the tree. The simplicityof this control arrangement enables an inexperienced operator to quicklymaster the controls and to operate the machine efficiently.

The invention is so constructed, that a minimal amount of vibration istransmitted to the tractor, thereby prolonging the life of the mechanismthereof, and to minimize the fatigue and physical discomfort of theoperator, which fatigue and discomfort is inherent in many of the treeshaking devices that are in operation at the present. The present deviceis so constructed that it may be operated at very high speed to obtainhigh frequency vibrations, which is particularly desirable in harvestingcertain fruits and nuts, and is preferable over the slower, longerstroke vibrations, which tend to injure a tree, but which systems aremuch in use at present. With high frequency, short stroke vibrations,there is less likelihood of injury to the tree.

SUMMARY With the foregoing taken into consideration, an object of thisinvention is to provide a tree shaking device which may be moved fromplace to place and readily attached to the tree on which fruit, nuts orseeds are grown, which are to be shaken therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tree shaking devicewhich may readily be mounted on a mobile apparatus, which tree shakingdevice is suspended from a boom mounted on a ground engaging elementwhich ground engaging element and the tree shaking device may be raisedor lowered, readily attached to the trunk of a tree, at the desiredheight, and operated without the operator having to leave the seat ofthe mobile apparatus. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tree there shakingdevice, opposed of which are utilized to clamp a tree between, and toprovide a motor to operate a vibrator to shake the tree, both of whichoperations are performed by the operation of a single lever to control acontrol valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tree shaking devicethat is mounted on the power lift of a tractor so that the boom thereofmay be raised and lowered to enable the tree shaking device to engage atree at the desired height.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a tree shakingdevice that is hydraulically driven from a source of fluid pressuregenerated by the mobile unit on which the tree shaking device ismounted. I

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tree shaking devicethat engages the tree transversely with respect to the longitudinal axisof the mobile apparatus or the tractor so that the vibratory movement'ofthe tree shaking device will be transmitted transversely with respect tothe boom of the mobile apparatus to minimize transfer of vibrationstransmitted to the mobile apparatus and to the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ground engagingsupport intermediate the tractor and the tree shaking device to supportthe boom of the tree shaking device, which support is brought intoengagement with the ground by the power lift hitch of the mobileapparatus.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide hydraulicallyactuated clamping jaws, which clamping jaws have elastomer faced linersthereon to enable the trunk of the tree to be gripped therebetweenwithout damage to the tree.

And a final object also is to provide a tractor mounted tree shakingdevice that is easy to install on a tractor and to remove therefrom,easy to operate,

7 which device is relatively low in the cost of construction, efficientin operation, and low in the cost of maintenance and operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS With the above objects in mind andothers which will become evident as the descriptions proceeds, referencewill be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a mobile apparatussuch as a tractor having the tree shaking device installed thereon,showing the ground engaging support mounted on the power lift hitch of atractor and showing an hydraulic system associated therewith with amovable boom which is hingedly connected to the tank of the hydraulicsystem and extends rearward therefrom, which boom has the tree shakingdevice suspended therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the elastomer tree trunk engaging elementsand the mounting therefor;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of FIG. 4,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking into thedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking into thedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, elevational, fragmentary view of the eccentricshaft and the mountings therefor, with parts being broken away and withportions shown in section to bring out the details of construction;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system, showing thehydraulic pump mechanically connected in driving relation with a mobileapparatus, such as a tractor;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing the clamp portion of the treeshaking device engaging a tree, and showing the elastomer pads incompressed condition;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a conventionalhydraulically actuated, spring pressure closed sequence valve shown inplace in a fragmentary portion of a mounting block, with parts beingbroken away and with parts being shown in elevation to bring out thedetails of construction; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a curved metallic plate with a curvedelastomer pad bonded thereto, which curving of the pad and straightmetallic plate, as shown in full outline, is performed subsequent to thebonding, as shown in dashed outline, of the elastomer pad to themetallic plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With more detailedreference to the drawings, particularly FIG. 7, the numeral 1 designatesgenerally a mobile apparatus, such as a tractor, which has a powertake-off shaft 2, which shaft is connected in driving relation with afluid pump 4 so as to furnish a continuous flow of fluid from thehydraulic reservoir 6, filter 7 and through the suction conduit 8,thence through the pump 4 to be discharged, under pressure, throughconduit 10 to the four-way valve assembly, designated generally by thenumeral 12.

The valving mechanism 12 includes a four-way valve 14 having a controllever 16 mounted thereon, which control lever is operable in a straightline, so when moved in one direction, hydraulic fluid will be directedfrom the valve 14 into conduit 18 into the end of the hydraulic cylinder20 adjacent the piston rod 22 thereof, which will cause the piston rod22 to retract to move the beam or clamp arm 24 longitudinally, whichwill cause the jaw 26, which carries the resilient tree engaging pad 28,to be brought into engagement with the trunk of a tree, so as to clampthe tree between resilient pads 28 and 30.

Upon the hydraulic fluid entering the piston rod end of cylinder 20,hydraulic fluid is exhausted from the opposite end of the cylinder 20into conduit 31 leading to and through manifold block assembly 38 toconduit 33 which leads to and through four-way valve 12 to exhaust intoreservoir 6. The conduits 31 and 33 are in communication with sequencevalve 40, which valve is responsive to hydraulic pressure in conduits 33and 31.

The pad 30 is mounted on the housing 32 of the tree shaking device.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, shows hollow, resilient pads28 and 30, which pads are compressible to avoid injuring the tree beingshaken. With the trunk of the tree clamped in this manner, and withadditional pressure being exerted on conduit 10, hydraulic fluid, underpressure, will be directed to and through tee 34 into conduit 36, thenceinto passage 62 in the manifold block assembly 38 to actuate sequencevalve 40 which is positioned therein, into passage 60A, which passageconnects with conduit 42, as will best be seen in FIG. 7. This willdirect hydraulic fluid, under pressure, into and through conduit 42 to afluid motor 44, which motor 44 is mounted on the tree shaker housing 32,thereby the hydraulic fluid, under pressure, will cause the fluid motorto rotate drive shaft 46 on which sprockets 48 and 50 are mounted, aswill best be seen in FIG. 3. One end of the shaft 46 is journaled in abearing 52 in the hydraulic motor 44, and the opposite end thereof isjournaled in a bearing 54 on the housing 32, in a manner well understoodin the art of bearings.

With the trunk of the tree as shown in FIG. 8, clamped between theresilient pads 28 and 30, and with the pressure being increased to movethe sequence valve 40 into a position to direct hydraulic fluid fromconduit 36 through manifold block assembly 38 into the conduit 42, thehydraulic fluid will flow into and through motor 44, as indicated by thearrow in FIG. 7, and will be exhausted into conduit 56, thence throughpassage 64 in manifold block assembly 38 and through return line 58,through tee' 59 into conduit 59A, into reservoir 6, or through conduit59B into valve 14. Anticavitation check valve 60 is provided within themanifold block assembly 38, between passages 62 and 64 therein, toprevent the flow of fluid from conduit 42 into passage 64.

In this manner the tree trunk will remain clamped between resilient pads28 and 30, and the motor will not start until the desired clampingaction is had on the tree trunk, after which, the sequence valve 40 willbe actuated to cause fluid, under pressure, to be directed into andthrough the fluid motor 44, which will cause the motor 44 to start. Themotor 44 will drive sprockets 48 and 50, which sprockets drive therespective chains 66 and 68. The chain 66 is connected in direct drivingrelation with sprockets 48 and 70, which sprockets 48 and 70 will rotatein the same direction. ldler sprockets 74 and 76 are mounted onadjustable brackets 75 and 77, one on each side of chain 66, so as tocompensate for wear on the chain and sprockets, and-also to adjust thetiming of eccentric 78 with respect to eccentric 86, whichsprocket-eccentric assemblies are journaled on shaft 80. The sprocket 70is connected with the eccentric 78 and is journaled on bearings 82 whichare held in fixed relation within the sprocket-eccentric assembly bymeans of a snap ring 84, so that the sprocketeccentric assembly 70-78will rotate freely on the shaft 80.

A sprocket 72, which is similar to sprocket 70, is secured integral witheccentric 86 and is journaled on bearings (not shown) similar to thoseshown at 82, FIG. 6, which eccentrics 78 and 86 are spaced apart bymeans of a spacing ring 88, as will best be seen in FIG. 6.

The housing 32 has the fluid driven motor 44 mounted thereon and securedthereto, as by bolts 45, so the shaft 46 will be perpendicular to theface of the housing 32, near one end thereof. The eccentric shaft 80,which, in the present instance is a dead shaft, is mounted within thehousing parallel to shaft 46, near the opposite end of the housing 32,within apertured bosses 81. The apertures in the bosses 81 are bored sothey will be axially aligned.

Sprocket-eccentric assembly 70 and 78 and sprocket-eccentric assembly 72and 86 are mounted on shaft 80, which shaft may be inserted within theapertures or bores 81A of the bosses 81. The shaft 80 is held againstlongitudinal movement by cap screws 83 and washers 83A, with one of thecap screws threadably engaging each end thereof, as is best seen in FIG.6. The removal of the cap screws 83 and the washers 83A thereunderenables the removal of the shaft 80, thereby enabling thesprocket-eccentric assemblies, including the bearings, to be removedthrough an opening 32A in the side of housing 32, which opening 32A iscovered by beam or clamp arm 24.

' The housing 32 has a loop 32B thereon, near an end thereof on the sideof the housing adjacent the opening 32A, which loop receives the beam orclamp arm 24 in complementary sliding relation, which beam'or clamp arm24 may be removed from loop 328 upon disconnection of the hydrauliccylinder from the housing 32. This will enable the beam, covering theopening 32A, to be removed, thereby to give access to the interior ofthe housing 32 to enable assembly, repair, and/or replacement of any orall parts therein.

The beam or clamp arm 24 is hollow and has one end of the plunger 22 ofhydraulic cylinder 20 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of thehydraulic cylinder 20 is pivotally connected to the housing 32 to enablethe beam or clamp arm 24 to be moved longitudinally to enable the jaw 26to grip or release the trunkof a tree, upon application of hydraulicpressure to one end or the other of the hydraulic cylinder 20.

The sprocket 72 is driven in the opposite direction to that of sprocket70, in that chain 68 passes over idler sprockets 90 and 92, which aremounted on supports 91 and 93, respectively, so the sprocket 72 will bedriven from the opposite side of the chain, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5,to perform a reversing action of sprocket-eccentric assembly 72 and 86with respect to sprocket-eccentric assembly 70 and 78. The idlersprocket 92, as well as idler sprockets 74 and 76, are mounted onadjustable supports 75 and 77, respectively, to enable the timing of theeccentrics by at least one link of the chain. Timing holes 94 and 96 areprovided in the respective eccentrics 78 and 86, which holes 94 and 96are brought into axial alignment to provide proper timing of theeccentrics, as will best be seen in FIGS, 3, 4 and 5. A timing settingpin 98 may be inserted throgh hole 100 in housing 32 so as to registerwith aligned holes 94 and 96, in the respective eccentrics 78 and 86, toassure proper timed relation between the eccentrics to give the propersynchronization of the eccentrics to obtain the proper direction ofvibration of the device.

The vibrating and clamping unit, of the tree shaking device isdesignated generally by the numeral 101, in the preferred mountingthereof, has a pair of upstanding, elastomer blocks 102 on the upperside thereof, in which elastomer blocks 102 support chains 104 areembedded, which chains are connected to the respective mounting plates105 and 106. The plate 105 is secured to the upper face of housing 32,and the transverse support member 106 is secured to boom 110. Theelastomer blocks 102 are also bonded to the upper face of mounting plate105 and to the lower face of transverse member 106, respectively. Thetransverse support member 106 is mounted on the upper side of theelastomer blocks 102. The transverse support member 106 has a pair ofupstanding, apertured lugs 108 thereon to pivotally receive a pivot pin112 therethrough and the outer end of the apertured boom assembly,designated generally by the numeral 110. The pivot pin 112 couples thevibrating and clamping unit 101 to the boom 110, which vibrating unit101 extends transversely of the boom 110. The boom is pivotally mountedon pivot pin 114, which pin passes through the aperture of the boom andthrough the apertured ears 116 on the upper side of the reservoir 6.

An apertured brace 118 extends from the lower portion of the reservoir 6upwardly at an angle and connects to an aper-tured lug 120 on boom 1 10by connector pin 122. The apertured lug 120 has several apertures formedtherein, so the angularity of the boom 110 may be varied with respect tothe upright support legs 124 on reservoir 6. The upright support legs124 each has a foot 126 on the lower end thereof to enable the unit tobe quickly disconnected from a power lift hitch 128 of the tractor 1,with the feet of the upright legs 124 supporting the legs in position toenable ready reconnection with the tractor 1. Power lift hitches arewell known in the art of tractors, and when the support legs 124, onwhich the reservoir 6 is mounted, are lowered against the ground, thefeet 126 will seat on the ground to readily enable the hitch bar of thetractor to be connected thereto by pins or bolts 130.

When it is desired to attach the vibrating unit 101 to a tree T, thepower lift 128 is used to elevate the reservoir 6, legs 124, boom 110,the vibrating unit 101 and clamping device 24 to the proper height toenable the elastomer pads 28 and 30 to engage the tree trunk.

Since the clamping unit 24 and vibrating device 101 are positionedtransversely of the tractor l, and transversely with respect to the boom110, a minimum of vibration is transmitted to the tractor 1 and to theoperator thereof, as compared to the type of shaker which is connectedto a tractor with the boom so the vibrations are transmittedlongitudinally of the boom to the tractor.

OPERATION With the tree shaking device 101 connected to the 1 power lifthitch 128 of the tractor l, as by pins 130, and

with the pump 4 connected in driven relation with the power take-off ofthe tractor, and with the pump 4 connected in operative relation withthe tractor l by engagement of lever 3, hydraulic fluid is withdrawnfrom reservoir 6, through filter 7, through conduit 8 by pump 4, whichhydraulic fluid is discharged through conduit 10 into tee 34, with onebranch conduit 11 thereof leading fo a four-way valve assembly 12,which, when the lever 16 is moved to the operating position, will dirccthydraulic fluid into conduit 18, to manifold block assembly 38, thencethrough conduit 19 into the piston rod end of cylinder 20.Simultaneously, the fluid that is in the opposite end of the hydrauliccylinder 20 will be discharged into conduit 31 which leads throughpassage 64 in the manifold block assembly 38 to conduit 33 and throughfour-way valve 12, which valve connects with conduit 59B, tee 59 andconduit 59A, which discharges into reservoir 6; pressure issimultaneously directed into conduit 36 to sequence valve 40, whichvalve is closed by spring pressure, until hydraulic fluid, directed intocylinder 20, brings elastomer members 28 and 30, which members aremounted on jaw 26 of the housing 32, into desired binding engagementwith the trunk of the tree which is to be clamped therebetween.

The sequence valve, designated generally at 40, is representative of thehydraulically actuated, spring pressure closing sequence valve. Thisvalve is representative of a hydraulically actuated, spring pressureclosed sequence valve such as may be obtained from Fluid Controls, Inc.Mentor, Ohio, which company has distributors throughout the UnitedStates and in many industrial foreign countries, however, various othersequence valves are manufactured and sold which will perform the samefunction, therefore, the inventor makes no claim to the sequence valveper se, except as it performs the function of any sequence valve, in thepresent invention. The sequence valve used is designated by a Companypart No. 1 SA 10 and is particularly illustrated in the Fluid Controls,Inc. catalog, revised 6/71 on pages 3.3 and 3.4. The sequence valve 40has springs 41, 41A and 41B to actuate the valve, as particularlybrought out in FIG. 9.

After the tree trunk is securely clamped between the members 28 and 30,additional hydraulic pressure is applied to sequence valve 40, whichwill cause the sequence valve to direct hydraulic fluid into conduit 42which leads to the fluid motor 44, this hydraulic fluid pressure causesthe motor to rotate at a speed in accordance with the amount of fluiddirected therethrough. The hydraulic fluid from motor 44 exhausts intoconduit 56,'thence through passage 64 in manifold block assembly 38 intoconduit 58 and through tee 59 into branch conduit 59A into the reservoir6.

As the hydraulic fluid, under pressure, is directed from the sequencevalve 40 into conduit 42, the motor 44 is rotated to drive theeccentrics 78 and 86 at the desired speed, with the eccentrics beingdriven in opposite directions to produce a movement laterally withrespect to the boom 110 to create vibrations, with the resilient blocks102 absorbing a substantial amount of the vibrations before thesevibrations are received by the boom. With the vibrating and clampingdevice 101 mounted laterally with respect to the boom, minimum vibrationis received by the tractor and by the operator thereof.

When it is desired to cease shaking the trunk of the tree, the lever 16is released and will move to the neutral position, thus allowing fluidto return through valve assembly 12 and tee 59, and branch conduit 59Ato reservoir 6.

Upon movement of the lever 16 in the opposite direction from theaforementioned position, which is the operating position, hydraulicfluid will be directed from four-way valve assembly 12 into conduit 33,into and through passage 63 in manifold block assembly 38 into conduit31, into the end of hydraulic cylinder 20 opposite piston rod 22thereof, which will cause the piston rod 22 to movejaw 26 and elastomerpad 28 away from the tree trunk, with the hydraulic fluid beingdischarged from the piston rod end of the hydraulic cylinder 20 intoconduit 19 into and through passage 19A in manifold block assembly 38,thence through conduit 18 into four-way valve 12 and out through conduit59B, tee 59 and conduit 59A into reservoir 6; whereupon, the jaw 26 isopened to enable the device to be moved to another tree to be shaken.Sheets of plastic or fabric 28A and 30A may be attached to therespective elastomer pads 28 and 30 to protect the face of the pad andalso to protect the bark of some species of trees. A drain pa ss ageinterconnects with the passage 63, in block 38, and with the cavity of the sequence valve 40 which allows varying amounts of the total flow ofhydraulic fluid to be bypassed by the motor and back to the reservoir.By adjusting the sequence valve 40, the flow rate through the passage Acan be varied from zero gallons per minute to the total gallons perminute output of the pump.

The elastomer pads 28 and 30 are elongated and are mounted on jaw 26 andhousing 32 respectively, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 8. Theinner face of each of the pads 28 and 30 is flattened and is bonded tothe respective plates 28B and 30B. The pads are hollow and each pad hasan elliptical hole 28C and 30C, respectively passing therethrough, withthe major axis of the respective ellipses of the holes beingsubstantially vertical. Grooves 28D are formed on each side of elastomerpad 28 and grooves 30D are formed on each side of elastomer pad 30intermediate the respective pads and the respective plates, so as toform a flexing point.

The respective pads 28 and 30 are substantially elliptical in endelevation with approximately uniform thickness of elastomer materialsurrounding the respec tive elliptical holes 28C and 30C therein, whichpermits ready yielding of the elastomer material within the pad, with aminimum of strain thereon.

It is preferable to have the elastomer pads 28 and 30 detachably securedto the jaw 26 and to the housing 32 respectively by means of bolts, soas to enable these elements to be removed and replaced as necessary.

MODIFIED FORM OF CLAMPING'PAD A modified form of clamping pad is shownin exploded view, FIG. 2, which form of clamping pad is interchangeablewith pads 28 and 30. The pads 201 and 202 are secured, as by bolting orother means, to the mounting members 206 and 208 respectively, whichpads are preferably more dense and are made of elastomer material, suchas polyurethane, so as to transfer more intense shock vibrations tolarger trees being shaken, especially to trees, the bark of which is notreadily damaged. The pad 202 is bolted to mounting member 208 which issecured to the housing 32, as by bolts, cap screws or the like. Themounting member 208 has an apertured plate thereon, which plate may besecured to the housing 32 as by bolts, cap screws or the like. Themounting member 206 has a threaded bolt 210, which bolt extends in thedirection opposite to the elastomer pad 202 and passes through anaperture in the inner face of jaw 26.

A pair of ribs 214, one of which is positioned on each side of bolt 210on mounting member 206, enables a rocking motion to be imparted tomember 206 so that the elastomer members 201 and 202 will readilyconform to the tree trunk. This enables the proper alignment of theshaking device with the trunk of the tree.

Further Modified Form of Clamp Pad A further modified form of clampingpad, FIG. 10, shows an elastomer pad 301 which is bonded, as byvulcanizing or bonding, to a metallic plate 302, while the plate and padare in the position shown in dashed outline in FIG. 10, then the plate302 and elastomer pad 301 are pressed into a curve or otherwise curved,as indicated in full outline in FIG. 10. Holes 303 and 304 are formed inthe elastomer pad and plate to enable the pad to be bolted onto plates208 and 206, respectively.

By vulcanizing or bonding the elastomer pad 301 onto plate 302 prior tothe curving thereof, the elastomer material is put in compression at thepoint of bonding and resists being torn from the metal plate to a muchgreater degree than if the elastomer pads were bonded to concave platesafter the plates had been curved. These pads are interchangeable withpads 28, 201 and 202, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulically actuated tree clamping and tree shaking devicemounted on a mobile unit, which device comprises;

a. a boom secured to and extending outwardly from the mobile unit,

b. a housing supported by said boom near the outer end thereoftransversely with respect thereto,

1. elastomer support means intermediate said boom and said housing,

2. a pair of eccentric members journaled within said housing forrotation thereof about a common axis to impart vibratory motion to saidhousing transversely of said boom,

c. a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing and having drive meansthereof extending into said housing,

d. endless transmission means connected with said drive means on saidhydraulic motor and with said eccentric members to drive said eccentricmembers in opposite directions to create the vibratory motiontransversely of the boom and of the mobile unit,

e. an arm slidably secured to said housing,

I. said arm having an inturned jaw thereon near the outer end thereof,

2. an elastomer pad mounted on an inner face of said housing,

3. an elastomer pad mounted on said inturned jaw in opposed relation tothe elastomer pad mounted on said inner face of said housing,

f. a hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly interconnecting said housingand said arm to move said arm relative to said housing,

g. a hydraulic reservoir detachably connected to the mobile unit,

h. a hydraulic pump detachably connected in operative relation with themobile unit,

i. a single lever, manually actuated hydraulic control valve,

1. a discharge conduit connected with said hydraulic pump and with saidhydraulic control valve,

j. a hydraulically actuated spring pressure closing sequence valve,

1. a branch conduit of said discharge conduit connected in fluidcommunication with said sequence valve,

2. a conduit leading from said sequence valve to said hydraulic motor,

k. conduits interconnecting opposite ends of said hydrauliccylinder-plunger assembly with said hydraulic control valve,

1. movement of said manually actuated single lever on said hydrauliccontrol valve, in one direction, causing said manually actuatedhydraulic control valve to direct hydraulic fluid under pressure to oneend of the hydraulic cylinder of said cylinder-plunger assembly to movesaid arm, carrying said inturned jaw, toward said housing to clamp atree trunk between said elastomer pads,

. said sequence valve opening when a predetermined fluid pressure isexerted thereon to clamp the tree trunk between said elastomer pads fordiverting hydraulic fluid under pressure through said conduit leadingtherefrom to said hydraulic motor, 2

. a discharge conduit leading from said hydraulic motor to saidhydraulic reservoir to discharge hydraulic fluid from said motorthereinto, and

2. movement of said manually actuated lever in a direction opposite tosaid one direction decreasing pressure on said sequence valve to stopthe flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor, and upon further movement ofthe lever, directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opposite endof the hydraulic cylinder to cause relative movement between thecylinder and plunger of the cylinderplunger assembly and said inturnedjaw on said arm to release the elastomer pads from engagement with thetree trunk and to direct the fluid from the opposite end of thehydraulic cylinder into said conduit leading to said reservoir.

2. A hydraulically actuated tree clamping and tree shaking device asdefined in claim I; wherein a. said elastomer pads are each mounted on ametallic plate and bonded thereto,

b. said plates are curved inward after the bonding of the elastomerthereto so as to exert compression on the elastomer.

3. A hydraulically actuated tree. clamping and tree b. a housingsupported by said boom near the outer end thereof,

1. a pair of eccentric members journaled within said housing forrotation in opposite directions,

2. drive means connected to each said eccentric member,

c. a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing,

1. drive means connected to said hydraulic motor,

d. endless transmission means connected with the drive means on saidhydraulic motor and with the drive means on each said eccentric memberto drive said eccentric members in opposite directions to create avibratory motion,

e. a movable arm on said housing, which arm has an inturned jaw thereonto engage a face of said housing in abutting relation,

f. a hydrauilc cylinder-plunger assembly interconnecting said arm andsaid housing to impart relative movement therebetween,

g. a power driven hydraulic pump,

h. a hydraulic reservoir,

1. a conduit connecting said hydraulic pump in fluid communication withsaid reservoir,

i. a single lever, manually actuated hydraulic control valve,

1. a discharge conduit connected to said hydraulic pump and to saidmanually actuated control valve,

jv a hydraulically actuated, spring pressure closing sequence valve,

1. a branch of said discharge conduit connected in fluid communicationwith said sequence valve,

2. a conduit leading from said sequence valve to said hydraulic motor,

k. conduits interconnecting opposite ends of said hydrauliccylinder-plunger assembly with said manually actuated hydraulic controlvalve,

l. movement of said manually actuated single lever on said hydrauliccontrol valve in one direction causing said manually actuated hydrauliccontrol valve to drect hydraulic fluid under pressure to one end of thehydraulic cylinder of said cylinder-plunger assembly to move said armwith said inturned jaw thereon toward said housing to clamp a tree trunktherebetween,

1. said sequence valve opening when a predetermined fluid pressure isexerted thereon to clamp a tree trunk between said inturned jaw on saidarm and said housing for diverting hydraulic fluid under pressurethrough said conduit leading therefrom to said hydraulic motor,

1. a discharge conduit leading from said hydraulic motor to saidhydraulic reservoir to discharge hydraulic fluid from said motorthereinto while said motor is operating,

2. movement of said manually actuated lever in a direction opposite tosaid one direction decreasing pressure on said sequence valve to stopthe flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor and upon further movement ofsaid lever, directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opposite endof said hydraulic cylinder to cause relative movement between thecylinder and the plunger of the cylinder-plunger assembly and saidinturned jaw on said arm to release the tree trunk from between theinturned jaw and said housing and to direct fluid from the opposite endof the hydraulic cylinder into the conduit leading to said reservoir.

1. A hydraulically actuated tree clamping and tree shaking devicemounted on a mobile unit, which device comprises; a. a boom secured toand extending outwardly from the mobile unit, b. a housing supported bysaid boom near the outer end thereof transversely with respectthereto,
 1. elastomer support means intermediate said boom and saidhousing,
 2. a pair of eccentric members journaled within said housingfor rotation thereof about a common axis to impart vibratory motion tosaid housing transversely of said boom, c. a hydraulic motor mounted onsaid housing and having drive means thereof extending into said Housing,d. endless transmission means connected with said drive means on saidhydraulic motor and with said eccentric members to drive said eccentricmembers in opposite directions to create the vibratory motiontransversely of the boom and of the mobile unit, e. an arm slidablysecured to said housing,
 1. said arm having an inturned jaw thereon nearthe outer end thereof,
 2. an elastomer pad mounted on an inner face ofsaid housing,
 3. an elastomer pad mounted on said inturned jaw inopposed relation to the elastomer pad mounted on said inner face of saidhousing, f. a hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly interconnecting saidhousing and said arm to move said arm relative to said housing, g. ahydraulic reservoir detachably connected to the mobile unit, h. ahydraulic pump detachably connected in operative relation with themobile unit, i. a single lever, manually actuated hydraulic controlvalve,
 1. a discharge conduit connected with said hydraulic pump andwith said hydraulic control valve, j. a hydraulically actuated springpressure closing sequence valve,
 1. a branch conduit of said dischargeconduit connected in fluid communication with said sequence valve,
 2. aconduit leading from said sequence valve to said hydraulic motor, k.conduits interconnecting opposite ends of said hydrauliccylinder-plunger assembly with said hydraulic control valve,
 1. movementof said manually actuated single lever on said hydraulic control valve,in one direction, causing said manually actuated hydraulic control valveto direct hydraulic fluid under pressure to one end of the hydrauliccylinder of said cylinder-plunger assembly to move said arm, carryingsaid inturned jaw, toward said housing to clamp a tree trunk betweensaid elastomer pads,
 1. said sequence valve opening when a predeterminedfluid pressure is exerted thereon to clamp the tree trunk between saidelastomer pads for diverting hydraulic fluid under pressure through saidconduit leading therefrom to said hydraulic motor,
 1. a dischargeconduit leading from said hydraulic motor to said hydraulic reservoir todischarge hydraulic fluid from said motor thereinto, and
 2. movement ofsaid manually actuated lever in a direction opposite to said onedirection decreasing pressure on said sequence valve to stop the flow ofhydraulic fluid to said motor, and upon further movement of the lever,directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opposite end of thehydraulic cylinder to cause relative movement between the cylinder andplunger of the cylinder-plunger assembly and said inturned jaw on saidarm to release the elastomer pads from engagement with the tree trunkand to direct the fluid from the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinderinto said conduit leading to said reservoir.
 2. a pair of eccentricmembers journaled within said housing for rotation thereof about acommon axis to impart vibratory motion to said housing transversely ofsaid boom, c. a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing and having drivemeans thereof extending into said Housing, d. endless transmission meansconnected with said drive means on said hydraulic motor and with saideccentric members to drive said eccentric members in opposite directionsto create the vibratory motion transversely of the boom and of themobile unit, e. an arm slidably secured to said housing,
 2. an elastomerpad mounted on an inner face of said housing,
 2. a conduit leading fromsaid sequence valve to said hydraulic motor, k. conduits interconnectingopposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly with saidhydraulic control valve,
 2. A hydraulically actuated tree clamping andtree shaking device as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomerpads are each mounted on a metallic plate and bonded thereto, b. saidplates are curved inward after the bonding of the elastomer thereto soas to exert compression on the elastomer.
 2. movement of said manuallyactuated lever in a direction opposite to said one direction decreasingpressure on said sequence valve to stop the flow of hydraulic fluid tosaid motor, and upon further movement of the lever, directing hydraulicfluid under pressure to the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder tocause relative movement between the cylinder and plunger of thecylinder-plunger assembly and said inturned jaw on said arm to releasethe elastomer pads from engagement with the tree trunk and to direct thefluid from the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder into said conduitleading to said reservoir.
 2. movement of said manually actuated leverin a direction opposite to said one direction decreasing pressure onsaid sequence valve to stop the flow of hydraulic fluid to said motorand upon further movement of said lever, directing hydraulic fluid underpressure to the opposite end of said hydraulic cylinder to causerelative movement between the cylinder and the plunger of thecylinder-plunger assembly and said inturned jaw on said arm to releasethe tree trunk from between the inturned jaw and said housing and todirect fluid from the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder into theconduit leading to said reservoir.
 2. a conduit leading from saidsequence valve to said hydraulic motor, k. conduits interconnectingopposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder-plunger assembly with saidmanually actuated hydraulic control valve,
 2. drive means connected toeach said eccentric member, c. a hydraulic motor mounted on saidhousing,
 3. A hydraulically actuated tree clamping and tree shakingdevice as defined in claim 9; wherein a. said hydraulic pump isdetachably connected to said mobile unit to enable the removal of theentire shaking device without disconnecting said hydraulic conduits. 3.an elastomer pad mounted on said inturned jaw in opposed relation to theelastomer pad mounted on said inner face of said housing, f. a hydrauliccylinder-plunger assembly interconnecting said housing and said arm tomove said arm relative to said housing, g. a hydraulic reservoirdetachably connected to the mobile unit, h. a hydraulic pump detachablyconnected in operative relation with the mobile unit, i. a single lever,manually actuated hydraulic control valve,
 4. A hydraulic tree clampingand tree shaking device, mounted on a mobile unit, which devicecomprises; a. a boom secured to and extending outward from the mobileunit, b. a housing supported by said boom near the outer end thereof,